Vehicle cushioning device.



P. WEST. VEHICLE GUSHIONING DEVICE. APPLIOATION FILED pmzv, 1910.

Patented Apr. 4, I911.

hi the body of the vehicle, {mesgoii cylinders mounted and associated as follows.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PEYTON WEST, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

vnnrcnr. .cusmonme DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

Application filed December 27, 1910. Serial No. 599,477.

in the art to which it appertain's to make and use the same, reference being had to thenccompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This lnvention relates to new and useful improvements in cushioning devices for vehicles, to relieve the running gear of jolts or jars.

The object of the invention is to provide a cushioning device that may be attached to vehicles such as automobiles and will supplant the elastic action of the springs and pneumatic tires, thereby increasing the easy riding qualities of the vehicle.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a rear elevation of the running gear of an automobile, the same being provided with my improved cushionin device; Fig. 2

is a section through one of e cy'linderson the line a-a of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the slide on the line b-b of Fig. 1.

Throughout the specification and drawings, similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 represents the front or rear wheels mounted on an axle 2. The axle 2 is attached to the running gear'frame 3 by means of elliptical springs 4 which permit the body of the vehicle (not shown) to have a resilient motion when the vehicle is being propelled. he above I described features are well known parts of motorvehicle constructions and constitute no part of the present invention.

To obviate the excessive resilient motion I provide a seconstructed,

or dash-pots Mounted. on the axle 2, whichmay be the front or rear axle; and adjacent to each of the A springs 4, is a cylinder (l-attached to -the axles in any convenient manner such as clips 7 which encompass the axle and are secured by screws 8. The said cylinders may be protvided with integral bottoms 9 an remov able heads 10. Reciprocating in each of said cylinders is a piston 11 joined to a piston rod 12 which extends upwardly through the removable head 10. On their upper to the socket members 14 of ball and socket joints. The cup members 14 encircle the ball members 15, which are provided with attached to the frame 3 of the vehicle. The

are slidably mounted in the bearings 17, so that when a side of the vehicle is on a .plane above .or below the other side, the piston rod will be prevented from binding or breaking, which would be the result if the flange 16 wasnot free to move, notwithstandin the other joint between the piston rod an the running gear. The ball and socket members constitute a universal joint between the run-' ning gear of the vehicle and the dash pot,

lateral strain.

Nhen the vehicleis in motion, some of structions wil be absorbed or taken ugby the springs 4, while the remainder of em will be absorbed by the air. compressed withball and socket joints 14 and 15, which form the direct connection between the piston rods, and the flanged members 16, allow the cylinders to have a certain amount of free movement independent of the frame or running gear, and thus prevent the strains .being communicated to the cylinders'by the shifting of the frame. In other, words,the constant shifting of he frame of the vehicle piston rods.

The cylinders 6 may cups 18 in the removable headsthercof, and drain cocks 19 at the bottom thereof, to draw off any excessive accumulations of oil. The said cylinders may alsobe provided at the top and pose of adjusting the air pressure within said cylinders. w

Having described my inv ntion, I claim:

In a cushioning device or vehicles, the combination of a vehicle running gear, an air cylinder supported upon an axle of said running gear, a PlStOIlrll'l said cylinder, :1

which relieves the latter 'from any undue in the cylinders below the piston 11. The

ends, the piston rods 12 are attached at 13 flanged portions 16 lying within bearings 17 flanged portions 16 of the ball members15 the shocks or jars due to the striking of obis prevented from .training the cylinders an be provided with oil bottom witlrvalves 20 for the purrod extending from said piston, a ball. of the vehicle and the pistb n rod subsfan 10 socket attached t0 the end of said piston rodh' tially as and for the purposes specified.

a, ball men fiver in saidsochet forming 'a uni Iil testimony whereof I affix my sigmaversai mm iherewxth, szud 'ball member tux-e, 1n presence of two wltnesses. 'erminatin in an extende flange and a 1' bearing atfuachec'l to the runmng gear frame PUT} ON BUT and, m Whmh salii flange 13 shdahly mount- 7W1tnesses:

ed, and whereby there are pravlded two 1IARRYA.BRENNIR,

yieldingjo-ints between the running gear NELLIE G. TEHAN; 

